Strategic Employment of Data Analysis for the Eradication of Fake Products in Online Shopping
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A panel discussion on best practices to reduce counterfeit goods in e-commerce took place on October 14, 2021. The event, hosted by the Center for Data Innovation, brought together experts from government, industry, and technology providers to share insights and discuss strategies.
The discussion, moderated by Daniel Castro, Director of the Center for Data Innovation, highlighted several best practices, emerging trends, and opportunities for public-private initiatives leveraging data to reduce counterfeit goods in e-commerce.
One key point emphasized was the importance of data sharing and collaboration across sectors. Successful initiatives often depend on robust partnerships between government, private companies, and technology providers to share intelligence on counterfeit activity and develop coordinated responses.
Another significant point was the use of advanced technologies such as AI and digital fingerprinting. Technologies like Alitheon’s optical AI system, which creates a digital fingerprint of physical goods based on their unique, inherent characteristics, represent cutting-edge tools to authenticate products rapidly and at scale by simply taking pictures.
Integrated track-and-trace systems were also highlighted as a crucial component of the fight against counterfeit goods. Public-private efforts are increasingly deploying comprehensive supply chain data tracking mechanisms to trace products from manufacture through delivery, reducing opportunities for fake goods to enter legitimate channels.
The discussion also underscored the value of combining data analytics with investigative reasoning. While technology is crucial, experts emphasize the complementary value of abductive reasoning and human-led investigative techniques to interpret data, understand evolving counterfeit tactics, and guide enforcement efforts.
The pharmaceutical and automotive industries, which are frequent targets due to safety risks, were identified as priorities for deploying data-driven counterfeit detection tools.
The panel discussion also explored further opportunities for public-private initiatives, focusing on enhanced regulatory frameworks and standards that enable data interoperability, incentivize information sharing, and promote adoption of authentication technologies, supported by policy frameworks developed through public-private dialogue.
The panel, which took place from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (EDT) and 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM (CEST) on Twitter, featured five speakers in total. Matthew C. Allen, Director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, Sara Decker, Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs at Walmart, Christa Brzozowski, Senior Manager of Public Policy at Amazon, and Piotr Stryszowski, Senior Economist at the OECD, were among the speakers.
The discussion followed the release of a new report by the National Intellectual Property Rights Center on best practices to reduce counterfeit goods in e-commerce, which focuses on marketplace responses to identified best practices.
In conclusion, the panel underscores that the convergence of innovative data technologies, cooperative partnerships, and thoughtful investigative techniques enhances the ability of stakeholders to detect and mitigate counterfeit goods in e-commerce effectively.
References:
- Optical AI creating product digital fingerprints by Alitheon as a leading example of technology application [1].
- The role of data-driven track-and-trace combined with investigative methods in combating counterfeit drugs and products [2].
- The improved data is used for screening sellers, identifying fraudulent products, and investigating criminal activity.
- The panel discussion on best practices to reduce counterfeit goods in e-commerce took place on Twitter, using the hashtag #ourwebsite.
[1] Alitheon. (n.d.). Optical AI creating product digital fingerprints. Retrieved from https://www.alitheon.ai/
[2] National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. (2021). Best practices to reduce counterfeit goods in e-commerce. Retrieved from https://www.iprc.gov/
- Effective reduction of counterfeit goods in e-commerce requires collaboration between government, industry, and technology providers, as data sharing and partnerships are crucial in developing responses.
- Advanced technologies like AI and digital fingerprinting, such as Alitheon's optical AI system, play a significant role in authenticating products rapidly and at scale.
- Integrated track-and-trace systems, which provide comprehensive supply chain data, are essential to reducing opportunities for fake goods to enter legitimate channels.
- Data analytics combined with investigative reasoning can help interpret data, understand evolving counterfeit tactics, and guide enforcement efforts against counterfeit goods, particularly in industries with safety risks like pharmaceuticals and automotive.
- To further combat counterfeit goods, the panel advocated for enhancing regulatory frameworks, promoting data interoperability, and incentivizing information sharing to support the adoption of authentication technologies.
- The discussion emphasized the importance of promoting data-and-cloud-computing, AI, and technology innovation in policy-and-legislation and general-news discussions to address the global issue of counterfeit goods in e-commerce.
- IoT devices can contribute to these efforts by providing real-time data on products throughout the supply chain, supporting the fight against counterfeit goods in e-commerce.
